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26 October 2024 – Kāpiti Quorum and The Cattlestops

26 October 2024 – Kāpiti Quorum and The Cattlestops

The Levin Folk Music Club meets for a special concert on Saturday 26 October featuring Kāpiti bands Kāpiti Quorum and The Cattlestops.

The Kāpiti Quorum is returning to the Levin Folk Music Club as the supporting act for The Cattlestops.

Kāpiti Quorum.

Back Row from left: Hans Vanderhelm, Roger King, John Laurenson. Front: Carole Abraham, Becky Abraham.

Image source: Kāpiti Quorum

Kāpiti Quorum have been together for a few years now, originating at a drop-in centre in Waikanae. They have played a few spots at the Levin Folk Music Club as well as entertaining some of the residents at Waikanae’s largest retirement village.

Band members include Hans Vanderhelm (bass and blues harmonica), Roger King (guitar and blues harmonica), John Laurenson (guitar and lead vocals), Carole Abraham (lead vocals) and Becky Abraham (guitar).

  • Hans is a former jazz player with amazing guitar skills. He was in a few bands in his native Holland before coming to New Zealand. He developed a love for bass guitar and harmonica, both of which add rich punctuation to Kāpiti Quorum’s performances. Hans was there at the very first get-together at the pop-in centre, and he has seen all the iterations since then.
  • Roger’s preferred instruments are guitar, mouth organ, box drum and djembe. Having little band experience, he has loved the chance to play music with and enjoy the company of fellow musicians in Kāpiti Quorum.
  • John’s stage experience goes way back, his singing too, and it’s nearly 60 years since he first picked up a guitar as a young lad growing up in Scotland. He has performed at folk clubs in England and New Zealand, medieval banquets, even a musical or two. Having sung in choirs, in duos and solo, he is now thoroughly enjoying his weekly serving of talents that the others in the group have.
  • Carole started entertaining at 15 – and has continued singing for the next 70 years. Everything from Light Opera and musicals to Kāpiti Quorum’s current repertoire – and isn’t planning on stopping singing any time soon! Also known fondly in the ‘auld country’ as the ‘Haslemere Nightingale’.
  • Becky is an old-school folkie from Merseyside who discovered the beauty of jazz and the blues – and everything else outside of folk music, in her ‘more’ senior years – and continues to dig up songs that others have tried to forget!

The Cattlestops, which formed in 2005, focused on country-rock and western music, performing original songs penned by bass player James Cameron and guitarist Andrew London.

During that time, they played with Hamilton County Bluegrass Band fiddle player Colleen Tren, lead guitarist Dave Berry and drummer Evan Williams. In 2009, the band went into recess following Tren moving to Tenessee to study, later lecturing in bluegrass music at East Tennessee State University.

Cameron and London continued performing together and in 2015, they began writing and recording again with a lineup of musicians they had been collaborating loosely with for some time.

This included Wayne Mason (keys), Ross McDermott (steel guitar), Lance Philip (drums) and guitarist Nick Granville.

The new album ‘Dancing in the Rain’ shows both songwriters in pensive and occasionally nostalgic mood, with genres ranging from rural acoustic country and JJ Cale-style ‘swamp’ grooves to driving blues and country rock.

Since 2020 Cameron and London have mostly played with Wayne Mason on piano as a trio. They now have Evan Williams doing percussion with them, with all four musicians to perform as The Cattlestoppers at the Levin Folk Music Club.


Come and enjoy toe-tapping tunes from Kāpiti bands Kāpiti Quorum and The Cattlestops at: Levin Folk Music Club, Saturday 26 October at the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with Kāpiti Quorum. At 8:30 pm there will be a 30 minute break for supper. The Cattlestops will perform from 9:00 pm.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $10 for members, $15 for non-members and $5 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).


Top image: The Cattlestops.
Top image source: Andrew London

 

11 October 2024 – Wandrella

11 October 2024 – Wandrella

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday 11 October with special guest Wandrella.

Wandrella play a mix of clever “covers with a twist” and original songs which reflect their classical roots and eclectic musical influences.

After a chance meeting in December 2016 at a house concert in Levin, Gill Allen (keyboards & guitar) and Kate Ward (guitar, banjo and mandolin) began to create a blend of their music and vocals, to develop a style and synergy unique to Wandrella. Both being Contralto, allows either voice to cover the musical range with an interchangeable blend of vocal harmonies.

Kate has played solo Celtic and classical guitar and has opened for the Arizona Smoke Review in the UK and Paul Obana Jones in NZ. She was influenced by the finger picking styles of Stefan Grossman and Gordon Giltrap.

Gill recorded her first album “Colour Outside the Lines” in 2004. She has played and recorded several songs with local musician Kevin Watson and in 2016 teamed up with local musician Simon Burgess and formed the duo “Burgess and Allen”. Two main musical influences have been Elton John and Eva Cassidy.

Wandrella, has gone from strength to strength over the years since they began. Their harmonies are so beautiful and make your heart sing and your face smile.


Come and find out for yourself at: Levin Folk Music Club, Friday October 11th at the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guests perform after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members, $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).


Kate Ward and Gill Allen are Wandrella.
Image source: John Jenkins

 

8 March 2024 – Rachel Dawick

8 March 2024 – Rachel Dawick

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday 8 March with special guest Rachel Dawick.

Rachel is a New Zealand folk artist who was a finalist for the NZ Tui Award Folk album in 2015.

She has been in London for the last four years, with her new folk album and book. “London Labour and the London Poor” where the songs are of the people from the mid 1840’s, telling of the diversity of people in London during this time.

Her previous book ‘The Boundary Riders” focuses on stories of NZ’s working-class women. Since 2017, Rachel has been developing her material.


Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guest performs after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members, $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Come and enjoy a night of fun and music!


Rachel Dawick
Image source:https://www.racheldawick.com/

 

9 February 2024 – The Pretty Boys

9 February 2024 – The Pretty Boys

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday 9 February with special guests The Pretty Boys.

The Pretty Boys, Freddy Sayer and Pierre Lange-Gerard have been playing together since Pierre first arrived from France at age 7 more than a decade ago.

It all started when they both joined a band programme and drama production, a few years later at the invitation of a resident Ruth Pretty (hence their stage name), they started busking to raise funds for a drama school trip. By now well known as the Pretty Boys, the duo carried on busking and raising money for a variety of things including another school trip, $3,000.00 raised for the After School Music Programme in Otaki, new instruments and even saving towards cars for when they can get their driver’s licences.

Freddy and Pierre are also part of a fourpiece band at Otaki College called Powercut, they won the Manawatū 2023 regional final at the Smokefree Rockquest competition and ranked in the top 30 out of 900 acts in the country.

As The Pretty Boys they both play various instruments with Freddy primarily choosing keys and ukelele and Pierre playing guitar. They sing and harmonise incredibly well, singing lead and backing each other vocally, with a style and maturity that belied their youth.


Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guest performs after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members, $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Come and enjoy a night of fun and music!


The Pretty Boys
Image source: Anje Glindemann

 

26 January 2024 – Concert of 10 Performers

26 January 2024 – Concert of 10 Performers

The Levin Folk Music Club has a concert on Friday the 26th January 2024 that we are quite excited about. Not just one band or artist but ten of them! Each one will perform a number of songs for the audience but don’t be surprised if there are some who join up together to make music you will remember for a very long time.


Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. This is an earlier start time than usual. Don’t be late to get there as the Hall can hold only 99 people due to fire regulations. First in, first to get a seat.

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is Adults $7.00, Children and Students $3.00. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).


Line-up

First up is Waireka. We have been lucky enough to have heard them several times and each time Cam and Juli have entertained the audience to some acclaim. They sing Cam’s original songs – playing guitar, ukulele and cahon. Ranging in genre from jazz, swing, country, folk and reggae and a love ballad or two! New they may be but they also have what it takes in the industry.

Second up is Hope and the Hobo. Phil Hope and Jo Sheffield share their life experiences with vocals, guitars, mandolins – all with original material. Phil has been involved with many acoustic music combos. Jo is originally from Northumberland in the UK and has made NZ her new home. Boy do they sound good.

Wandrella is third in the line-up. After a chance meeting in December 2016, Gill Allen (keyboards and guitar) and Kate Ward (guitar, banjo and mandolin) began to create a blend of their music and vocals, to develop a style and synergy unique to Wandrella. A couple of club members were lucky enough to attend a Wandrella concert in Palmerston North not long ago and were stunned at the performance they gave. A must for this group of top entertainers.

The fourth stellar performer is Paul Vernon. Paul has lived for the past 34 years in Levin so is well known to a lot of us. He’s a regular performer at the monthly Palace Jam nights, now held at The Firebird Cafe, and sometimes plays in the Friday Concerts at Te Takere. He plays many different genres including jazz, country and folk music. This is a real gem in the lineup tonight.

Last before supper is The Salty Hearts. A dynamic group of artists who keep your toes tapping and your heart singing along. Greg Sayer pens a vast selection of original songs that reflect his unique New Zealand experiences. Dave Allen is on guitar with sure, supportive and clever playing from Richard Guerin on bass and Anje Glindemann on drums. Anje is actually going to handle all the sound systems for the evening for all the artists. We so look forward to welcoming them all back to the Levin Folk Music Club.

First after supper and number six in our stunning line-up is Legal Tender. The Legal Tender duo of Ian and Moira Campbell have been performing an eclectic mix of country covers and originals around New Zealand for more years than they or anyone else care to remember. Sensitive guitar/bass arrangements of songs by Guy Clarke, Hank Williams, Gillian Welch and Alison Krauss are rendered with earthy integrity and exhilarating vocal harmonies.

Number seven is Dean Murray. Singer songwriter, luthier, fisherman, gardener, builder, environmentalist, husband, father and grandfather – Dean’s music reflects his many hats. Dean performed for us a few months ago and we could not have him anywhere but here for our special night. He wowed the crowd and we want him back.

Number eight for the evening is Black Eyed Susie. This duo began in 2006 when guitarist Ramon Oza met violinist Susan Colien Reid at a music jam. They have gone from strength to strength over the past 17 years bringing unique blends of Susan’s Celtic classical style and Ramon’s rhythm and blues. Black Eyed Susie’s favourite place to play is on the street, making people happy through song and performance. They have very strong performing backgrounds and are a must to be heard.

Raven Mavens is ninth in this fabulous line-up. They alternatively perform as a duo (Cindy Muggeridge on boogie and blues piano and Marian Carter adding soulful clarinet), a trio (with Anje Glindemann on drums) and a quartet (with Kate Marshall on accordion, flute and violin). Each of these women is a musician and a singer and when they get together there is a unique and beautiful synergy. A real pleasure to listen to for hours at a time.

Last for the night is none other than the Andrew London Duo. Many of you will know what an amazing husband and wife team they are. Andrew writes songs to make you smile and laugh; Kirsten plays the bass guitar and sings amazing harmonies. A great sense of humour sees this couple at the top of the charts in not just New Zealand but overseas as well.

NB: Due to Friday traffic and the distances some of the performers are travelling to get here we cannot guarantee that the order stated will stay as written.  Also there may be times when performers join other performers that are performing just for fun.

 

8 December 2023 – Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall

8 December 2023 – Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday 8 December with special guests Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall.

Bob and Kate are based in the Wairarapa but play gigs regularly around the southern half of the North Island. The song list veers between swing sounds of Texas, mixed with the blues and jazz served up in the Bob and Kate way.

Bob has pursued obscurity now for some 50 odd years playing blues guitar and singing country songs. He has opened for Guy Clark, Townes van Zandt, Tom Russell and Jimmy LaFave. He plays finger picking and slide guitar.

Kate plays violin, accordion and flute and sings quite beautifully. She started with classical piano and singing in choirs. In this gig she might add in her new secret weapon of jazz glockenspiel!

Bob and Kate have played at most of the folk clubs in the Wellington area, at Folk Festivals as well as at Jazz in Martinborough. Kate has played with all female supergroup The Raven Mavens while Bob has done the odd gig with harmonica maestro Neil Billington.

Together they have provided some extra textures for Butter Wouldn’t Melt’s recent performances at the Auckland and Wellington Folk Festivals.

For more information check out Kate Marshall and Bob Cooper-Grundy on the web.


Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guests perform after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members, $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Come and enjoy a night of fun and music!


Kate Marshall and Bob Cooper-Grundy
Image source: Bob Cooper-Grundy and Kate Marshall

 

10 November 2023 – Richard Grainger

10 November 2023 – Richard Grainger

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday 10 November with special guest Richard Grainger. Richard appeared recently as guest at the Wellington Folk Festival, “Wellyfest” (October 20 to 23).

Richard is best known as a solo performer, touring throughout the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

He first performed at the Teesside Folk Clubs in the 1970’s, singing and writing songs that capture the richness of the traditions of Northern England.

Since recording his first album in 1984, he has produced 13 albums of original songs, many of which are connected to the region’s maritime heritage and its recent industrial past. Among a large and varied repertoire are songs of Ironstone Miners (his Great Grandad was one), Whitby’s whaling and fishing days, Teesside’s steel industry, and local life.

He has been described by a BBC presenter as “The Folk Singer’s folk singer”. In 2003 he released the CD “Eye of the Wind”, telling the tale of the world-renowned navigator, James Cook, with David Attenborough narrating. His latest compilation album “Blood of the Land” was released in 2021.


Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guest performs after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members, $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Come and enjoy a night of fun and music!


Richard Grainger
Image source: Richard Grainger https://richard-grainger.com/photo-gallery

 

13 October 2023 – Local Stars Night

13 October 2023 – Local Stars Night

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday, October 13th with local stars performing. The Local Stars are Dean Murray, Colin Brown and Sue Bustard, and A Choired Taste.

Dean Murray, an energetic environmentalist, fisherman, gardener, builder, partner, father and grandfather. Another interesting string to his bow, is that he is a Luthier. He will be playing a guitar that he has made, and singing songs about the land, the people, the environment and the connections, with some harmonica in country/folk/reggae genre.

Colin and Sue have been performing as a duet for a few years in and around Levin. They enjoy singing everything from country to folk to jazz and often add a couple of Colin’s originals into the mix. Colin provides the guitar backing and they both provide vocals. They are looking forward to performing at the Folk Club.

A Choired Taste is a new a cappella choir for Horowhenua. It was launched in February 2023 and its repertoire includes pop, folk, gospel and waiata. There are no auditions or reading music as people learn by ear and lots of practise. To date they’ve sung at May Music Month, local retirement villages, and most recently at Spring Sing in Ōtaki with 10 other choirs. The choir meets 7pm Tuesdays term time at Memorial Hall Levin.

Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guests perform after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members and non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Come and enjoy a night of fun and music!

Top left: Dean Murray; top right: Colin and Sue; bottom: A Choired Taste
Images sourced from each performer

 

8 September 2023 – Waireka (Juli and Cam)

8 September 2023 – Waireka (Juli and Cam)

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday, September 8th with guests Juli and Cam, who entertain as the duo ‘Waireka’.

Cam and Juli have been playing together for about 8 years – mostly at open mics. They sing Cam’s original songs – playing guitar, ukulele and cahon. Ranging in genre from jazz, swing, country, folk and reggae and a love ballad or two!

The duo have played open mics and folk clubs in the Wellington region, a few private parties, garden tours and at the Wellington Folk Festival café, a spot at the Moon Bar in Newtown and Jack Hackett’s.

Waireka will be joined on a few numbers by Karen Munro on fiddle, and a couple of other guests.

Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guests perform after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members, $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Come and enjoy a night of fun and music!

Waireka – Juli and Cam
Image source: MusichavenImages

 

11 August 2023 – Carter Parker Trio

11 August 2023 – Carter Parker Trio

The Levin Folk Music Club meets again Friday, August 11th with guests Carter Parker Trio. Songs are originals and covers about Love, Life, Easy Riding, Doing Ones Duty, and other important topics.

Marian Carter, originally from New York, is gifted with a soulful voice and always sings as if it were to be her last time. She plays clarinet and alto sax with the same passion.

Barry Carter, originally from Christchurch, sings and plays with the same enjoyment as a bee eating honey. His original songs paint pictures with the lyrics and tell stories with the music. Marian and Barry have been performing together since they first met on a summer’s day in Salt Lake City in 1993.

Graham Parker, originally from Wellington, is a gifted bass player who appreciates various genres of music and enjoys a good fun jam session as much as playing a Mozart symphony.

Marian is also a member of The Raven Mavens & Raven Maven Quartette; Graham holds first chair bass in the Wellington City Orchestra; and Barry plays percussion in Upper Hutt band Planet. All three players also perform occasionally with local bands B Sharp and New Valley Stompers and have performed a wide variety of shows from concerts, festivals & community events, to street fairs, cafés, & bars.

Doors open at 7:00 pm and the evening begins at 7:30 pm with a blackboard of performers, where there is an opportunity for musicians to put their name up for an item. The guests perform after supper and the drawing of the raffle.

Admission, which includes a light supper, is $7 for members, $12 for non-members and $3 for students. Cash only (no eftpos facilities).

The venue is the Horowhenua Scottish Society Hall, 155 Bartholomew Road, corner Bartholomew Road and Middlesex Street, Levin.

Come and enjoy a night of fun and music!

Carter Parker Trio – Marian and Barry Carter, and Graham Parker
Image source: Carter Parker Trio

 

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